When it comes to heart health, many people think of blood pressure, diet and exercise. While these are important, there’s also something your doctor can use to understand your risk for heart disease: a simple blood test called a lipid panel. But what is it exactly, and why does it matter?

“Cholesterol and triglycerides are fats in your blood, and they play a big role in your overall heart health,” says Nebraska Medicine endocrinologist Clifton Davis, MD. “A lipid panel is an easy way to see how these fats are balanced and whether your heart may be at risk for future problems.”

What is a lipid panel?

A lipid panel is a simple blood draw that measures the fats in your blood, including different types of cholesterol and triglycerides. Particles called lipoproteins carry these fats and move cholesterol to where the body needs it.

“Cholesterol itself isn’t ‘bad,’” says Dr. Davis. “It’s a necessary building block for hormones, cell membranes and other key functions in the body. The problem arises when certain cholesterol-carrying particles, like LDL-C, start to build up in your arteries.”

A lipid panel includes:

• Total cholesterol: The overall amount of cholesterol in your blood.
• LDL cholesterol (LDL-C): Known as “bad” cholesterol that can increase heart disease risk.
• HDL cholesterol (HDL-C): Known as “good” cholesterol because it removes harmful cholesterol.
• Non-HDL cholesterol: All “bad” cholesterol that can cause plaque buildup in the arteries.
• Triglycerides: A type of fat in the blood that can raise heart risk when levels are high.

Your health care provider may recommend you fast for eight to 12 hours before your cholesterol test.

Why are lipid panels important?

Lipid panels help doctors assess patients’ risk for cardiovascular disease. High LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, as well as low HDL cholesterol, are linked to heart attacks, strokes and other heart problems.

“Many people don’t know their cholesterol is high because there are usually no symptoms until a serious health event occurs,” says Dr. Davis. “That’s why routine testing is important, even if you feel healthy.”

Testing recommendations depend on your age and risk factors. Healthy adults age 20 and older should get a lipid panel every four to six years.

“In those with a history of cardiovascular disease, stroke or peripheral vascular disease, it’s recommended to assess lipids eight weeks after starting or changing therapy and annually thereafter,” says Dr. Davis.

Additionally, those with diabetes or a family history of high cholesterol should get checked more often. Other risk factors may include smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and high blood pressure. 

What affects cholesterol?

Lifestyle plays a huge role in cholesterol levels. Diets with too much saturated or trans fats, for instance, can raise the LDL-C or “bad” cholesterol.

“Studies show that people who avoid smoking, limit alcohol, exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet and maintain a healthy weight tend to have higher HDL-C and lower total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-C,” says Dr. Davis.

Cholesterol levels can also rise with age. LDL-C levels in women may increase after menopause. Some people may also be more susceptible to producing excess cholesterol from a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia. 

What to do if lipid levels are high

“Talk with your doctor to understand your overall risk and what steps you can take,” says Dr. Davis. “Sometimes lifestyle changes are enough, and other times medications may be necessary. The goal is to reduce your long-term risk of heart disease.”

Lipid levels can often be improved by adjusting diet, exercising regularly, quitting smoking and maintaining a healthy weight.

The main takeaways

Even a normal lipid panel doesn’t eliminate your risk of future cardiovascular disease. 

“This is why providers look at overall risk like high blood pressure, smoking history, diabetes, family history and not just one lab number,” says Dr. Davis. “It’s also very common to be asymptomatic with elevated lipid levels.”

Regular testing, healthy habits and ongoing communication with your health care provider are the keys to keeping your heart health in check.